This article contains 5 facts regarding the current position of the Watchtower Society on the blood issue.

Following are statements of fact regarding the WTS’ Blood Doctrine; each speaks for itself:

[1] “In harmony with Acts 15:29, Jehovah’s Witnesses abstain from blood, including blood transfusions. They do, however, accept nonblood medical management.”—Anonymous, My Opinion of a Doctor’s Duty Has Changed, Awake!, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1995 1/22: 31

[2] “I accept all fractions derived from any primary components of blood.”—Durable Power of Attorney from the Society and provided for Jehovah’s Witnesses, January 2001

[3] “The Bible does not give details, so a Christian must make his own conscientious decision before God.”—Anonymous, Questions From Readers, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc., The Watchtower, 2000 6/15: 30

[4]“…Witnesses are deeply religious people who believe that blood transfusion is forbidden for them by Biblical passages such as: “Only flesh with its soul—its blood—you must not eat” (Genesis 9:3-4); “[You must] pour its blood out and cover it with dust” (Leviticus 17:13-14); and “Abstain from . . . fornication and from what is strangled and from blood” (Acts 15:19-21)…. While these verses are not stated in medical terms, Witnesses view them as ruling out
transfusion of whole blood, packed RBCs, and plasma, as well as WBC and platelet administration.”—Anonymous, Jehovah’s Witnesses—The Surgical/Ethical Challenge, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc., How Can Blood Save Your Life?, 1990: 27

[5] “Jehovah’s Witnesses hold that accepting whole blood or any of those four primary components violates God’s law. Significantly, keeping to this Bible-based position has protected them from many risks, including such diseases as hepatitis and AIDS that can be contracted from blood.”—Anonymous, Questions From Readers, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc., The Watchtower, 2000 6/15: 29

[6] “The disease is also linked to blood transfusions and blood products. “AIDS has become the second leading cause of death—after uncontrollable bleeding—in hemophiliacs, and, most recently, a number of surgical patients who have received blood transfusions have contracted AIDS, raising fears among some observers about the nation’s blood supply.””—Anonymous, Jehovah’s Standards Help Us, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc., The Watchtower, 1983 6/15: 13

“…some 70 million units of concentrated Factor VIII are imported from the United States and are used to treat British haemophiliacs. Each batch of Factor VIII is made from plasma that is pooled from as many as 2,500 blood donors. It seems that by importing this blood product the AIDS virus was transferred to the British supply.”—Anonymous, Britain, Blood, and Aids, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc., The Watchtower, 1985 6/15: 30

“For example, clotting factor VIII has been given to hemophiliacs, who bleed easily…. to prepare gamma globulin, blood-based clotting factors, and so on, requires that blood be collected and processed. Hence, some [Jehovah’s Witnesses] reject such products, just as they reject transfusions of whole blood or of its four primary components. Their sincere, conscientious stand should be respected… Other [Jehovah’s Witnessses] decide differently. They too refuse transfusions of whole blood, red cells, white cells, platelets, or plasma. Yet, they might allow a physician to treat them with a fraction extracted from the primary components.”—Anonymous, Questions From Readers, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc., The Watchtower, 2000 6/15: 30

[7] “But who uphold the sanctity of blood out of respect for God’s law, doing so as a group? When a patient objects to having a transfusion, whom does the doctor automatically think him to be? Does the doctor not usually say: ‘You must be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses’?....All of Jehovah’s Witnesses hold the same view as they walk in Jesus’ footsteps.”— Anonymous, A People Walking in Jesus’ Footsteps, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc., The Watchtower, 1988 5/1: 17

[8] “Repeatedly we are confronted with requests for information on blood transfusion, particularly for us to pronounce a sanction of this medical practice.”—Anonymous letter, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc., The Watchtower, 1950 5/1: 143

“One of Jehovah’s witnesses who claims to be of the anointed remnant recently went to the hospital and took a blood transfusion, voluntarily.”—Anonymous, Questions From Readers, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc., 1958 8/1: 478

““Are You Tolerating Secret Faults?” How this talk made us think! It forcefully showed that whether we are observed by humans or not, God sees us and rewards faithfulness. Particularly dealt with were the secret faults of masturbation, excessive use of alcohol and yielding to pressure in the matter of blood transfusion on being assured that this sin would be kept secret. But all such tolerating of secret faults results in a bad conscience and Jehovah’s disfavor.”—Anonymous, Our “Kingdom Unity” Convention—Why ‘the Best Yet!’, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Inc., The Watchtower, 1984 1/15: 28-29

[9] “In view of the seriousness of taking blood into the human system by a transfusion, would violation of the Holy Scriptures in this regard subject the dedicated, baptized receiver of blood transfusion to being disfellowshiped from the Christian congregation?... The inspired Holy Scriptures answer yes.”—Anonymous, Questions From Readers, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc., The Watchtower, 1961 1/15: 63

“If a baptized [Jehovah’s Witness] willfully and without regret accepts blood transfusions he indicated by his own actions that he no longer wants to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The individual revokes his own membership by his own actions, rather than the congregation initiating this step. This represents a procedural change instituted in April 2000in which the congregation no longer initiates action to revoke membership in such cases. However, the end result is the same, the individual is no longer viewed as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses because he no longer accepts and follows a core tenet of the faith. However, if such an individual later changes his mind, he may be accepted back as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. This position has not changed.”—Anonymous, Statement to the Media, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc., Jehovah’s Witnesses Public Affairs Office, June 14, 2000

“We believe that here the conscience of each Christian must decide. Some may feel that accepting such a serum does not constitute an act of disrespect for the sacredness of life and of God as the life Source, that it does not constitute a flouting of God’s expressed will concerning the use of blood to feed the body. On the other hand, the conscience of others may call on them to reject all such serums. Each must answer to God as his or her judge with regard to the reason for one’s conscientious decision.”—Anonymous, Questions From Readers, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc., The Watchtower, 1974 6/1: 352